The One Year Holy Land Moments Devotional,978-1414370217 (August 2013)

Recognized as the world’s leading Jewish authority on evangelical Christians, he has written columns and been featured in such publications as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time, U.S. News and World Report, The Jerusalem Post, The Forward, and People magazine. He has been a guest on TV and radio programs nationwide, including CNBC’s “Hardball” and PBS’ “Now with Bill Moyers.”

Eckstein, an Israeli Hasidic singer, has recorded six CDs. He has been a member of Kol Salonika,[5] The Y'DID Singers[6] and The Rabbis' Sons.[7] During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, he performed for Israeli troops on the Syrian front and in hospitals.

In May 2010, Israel's Minister of Welfare and Social Services Isaac Herzog presented Rabbi Eckstein with the government of Israel's first-ever Award for Special Contribution to the Welfare of the People of Israel. Herzog described the contributions of Eckstein and The Fellowship saying, “Rabbi Eckstein’s contribution to the wellbeing of needy Israelis goes above and beyond… Rabbi Eckstein completes the biblical decree ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[8]NEWSWEEK magazine named Eckstein to its list of the Top 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America (June 2010).[9] In July 2010, Rabbi Eckstein was honored by Hadassah with its first Man of Distinction award.[10]

Eckstein has also received the Economic Forum’s prestigious Jerusalem Prize, the Community Service Leadership Award from Yeshiva College, and more than 20 other awards from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Chamah, Colel Chabad, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Israel’s Union of Local Authorities, and other organizations. In 2002, he was inducted into the JDC Warburg Society.

In Israel, Eckstein has served as an unofficial advisor to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the State of Israel, with special emphasis on Israel’s relationships with evangelical communities in Latin America. He also chaired the City of Jerusalem’s Public Commission for Strengthening Worldwide Ties to Jerusalem.

The Fellowship[edit]

After serving as national co-director of interreligious affairs for the Anti-Defamation League, Eckstein founded the Holyland Fellowship of Christians and Jews in 1983 to help Christians and Jews work together on projects promoting the safety and security of Jews in Israel and around the world. The organization was renamed the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in 1991.[11]

Criticism[edit]

A July 24, 2005, New York Times magazine article by Zev Chafets notes: “Some of Eckstein’s fellow Orthodox rabbis would like to exile him for consorting with Christians,” adding, “Even those who applaud Eckstein’s philanthropies are sometimes skeptical about what he calls his ‘ministry.’ For Jews, who are used to seeing themselves as victims of bigotry, the saga of Yechiel Eckstein raises uncomfortable questions about who loves – and who hates – whom.”[3]

For decades, according to the Times article, Orthodox critics have accused Eckstein of being a closet Christian; in addition, The Jewish Observer, the house magazine of the ultra-Orthodox organization Agudath Israel of America, called Eckstein’s work “a curse.” The Times article also states, “Many of the Jews who once derided Eckstein for depending on the kindness of strangers now want to be his best friends.”[3]

According to the Times article, Abraham Foxman, Anti-Defamation League national director, remains one of Eckstein’s most prominent critics, accusing the rabbi of “selling the dignity of the Jewish people” by pandering to Christians. Eckstein has no apologies for his support from Christians, insisting he does more than fund-raising. “It’s a ministry,” he told the Times reporter.[3]